Assistive technology for people with deafblindness in Southern Africa: a Delphi study exploring dimensions of impact

Figures & data

Table 1. Six dimensions of the MyATOF tool.

MyATOF dimension	Operational framework and supporting references
Tool A – My supports	Assistive products and environmental adaptations subset, drawn from ISO 9999 [39] and NED [40] refined for deafblind cohort by author 3 and MyATOF Steering Group.
Tool B – My outcomes	WHO ICF Activity and participation domains [41]
Tool C – My costs	Aspects of cost (direct costs, indirect costs, social return on investment) based on economic pathway analysis from a sector perspective [42–44]
Tool D – My Rights	Subset of 12 Articles from UN CRPD [45,46]
Tool E – The AT Service Delivery Pathway	Six AT service delivery steps [47–50]
Tool F – Customer experience	Eight aspects of customer experience [48,49,51]

Table 2. Panellist demographics.

Panellist	Country	Gender	Identity	Age (yy.mm)	Experience with DB**	Years of experience
3/0*	Malawi	F	Advocate	35.11	A-DB < 65	5–10
					A-DB > 65
12/10	Malawi	M	Service Provider	33.0	A-DB < 65	3–5
			Educator, Researcher		C-DB
18/9	Malawi	M	Advocate	37.3	A-DB < 65	3–5
					C-DB
20/6	Malawi	M	Person with Deafblindness	39.8	C-DB	3–5
			Family Member, Educator
			Researcher, Advocate
4/15	South Africa	F	Researcher	40.1	A-DB < 65	10–20
			Service Provider		A-DB > 65
					C-DB
5/0*	South Africa	F	Service Provider	47.0	A-DB < 65	5–10
					A-DB > 65
					C-DB
7/16	South Africa	M	Person with Deafblindness	62.8	A-DB < 65	10–20
			Advocate
8/12	South Africa	M	Person with Deafblindness	62.11	C-DB	10–20
			Service Provider
			Educator
			Advocate
9/4	South Africa	M	Service Provider	34.1	A-DB > 65	3–5
			Educator
14/5	South Africa	F	Service Provider	–	A-DB < 65	20+
					A-DB > 65
					C-DB
17/13	South Africa	F	Person with Deafblindness	50.4	C-DB	20+
15/17	South Africa	F	Person with Deafblindness	43.0	A-DB < 65	20+
16/11	Zambia	F	Family Member, Service Provider	37.4	C-DB	5–10
			Educator, Researcher
			Advocate
10/8	Zambia	M	Person with Deafblindness	–	A-DB < 65	20+
			Advocate
21/3	Zambia	M	Advocate	–	A-DB < 65	5–10
6/14	Zimbabwe	M	Advocate	58.0	C-DB	20+
13/7	Zimbabwe	M	Educator	40.2	A-DB < 65	10–20
			Researcher, Advocate
Malawi (4) = 23.5%		F = 41.2%	Person with Deafblindness = 6	Age range	A-DB < 65 = 44%	3–5 = 23.5%
South Africa (8) = 47.0%		M = 58.8%	Family Member = 2	33–62.8 years	A-DB > 65 = 16%	5–10 = 23.5%
Zambia (3) = 17.7%			Service Provider = 7		C-DB = 40%	10–20 = 23.5%
Zimbabwe (2) = 11.8%			Educator = 6	Average age = 44.3 years		20+ = 29.5%
			Researcher = 6
			Advocate = 10

*Panellists who only participated in Phase 1 of the study.

**A-DB < 65 = Acquired DB (under 65 years of age), A-DB > 65 = Acquired DB (over 65 years of age), C-DB = Congenital DB (from birth).

Figure 1. Relevance of MyATOF statements to people with deafblindness and the SADC region.

Figure 2. Rating of the importance of sub-themes of the “People” theme.

Figure 3. Rating of the importance of sub-themes of the “Policy” theme.

Figure 4. Rating of the importance of sub-themes of the “Products” theme.

Figure 5. Rating of the importance of sub-themes of the “Provision” theme.

Figure 6. Rating of the importance of sub-themes of the “Personnel” theme.

Table 3. Summary of Phase 2 data sub-themes.

Theme 1 – PEOPLE and sub-themes
a.	Raise awareness of deafblind people about social inclusion
b.	Raise awareness of deafblind people about their human rights
c.	With the right assistive products and services, people with deafblindness can become employed
d.	There is a need to develop the assistive-technology-related skills of family members and family and support networks
e.	Value of peer support
Theme 2 – POLICY and sub-themes
a.	Government must implement the UNCRPD (human rights convention)
b.	Policy should support deafblind persons by paying for AT
c.	Deafblind persons should contribute to the cost of their AT
d.	Governments should make AT that is relevant to people with deafblindness available
e.	That policies are actioned
f.	People with deafblindness should be involved in the process of developing AT policies
Theme 3 – PRODUCTS and sub-themes
a.	AT products are not available because they are not affordable for most people with deafblindness
b.	AT products are not available because they are not produced in African countries
c.	AT products are not available because they are imported and there are big costs with import duty and foreign exchange
d.	Physical environments are not adaptable or accessible. The interface between AT and environments must be considered
e.	Products must be user-friendly/easy to use (not complicated) and durable
Theme 4 – PROVISION and sub-themes
a.	There is limited availability of AT products or services to people with deafblindness in my experience.
b.	Governments need to play more of a role in AT provision (noting roles undertaken by civil society including large corporates, donors and advocacy groups)
c.	It is helpful to know where to go for advice and for products
d.	Empower deafblind people with AT as it is cost effective compared with human supports
e.	Strategies and processes to ensure provision in rural areas
Theme 5 – PERSONNEL and sub-themes
a.	There is a need for staff awareness about deafblindness and skills development in general health and disability services
b.	There is a need for staff awareness about deafblindness and skills development in all areas of government and social services
c.	It is important to provide training (AT services) as well as AT products
d.	It would be useful to have a training package about deafblindness and AT, as well as training packages available at tertiary student and workforce levels
e.	Need for cultural/religious awareness and sensitivity to age

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Data availability statement

Data from the two Delphi rounds are available from the first author upon request. Further information on the MyATOF Framework is available from the third author upon request.